you should ask your friends working for DCI carriers, same thing there, it s not unique to UAL/UAEX

Exept for skywest and maybe comair since they are still owned by DAL, a more senior DAL employee WILL bump a DCI employee on their "own" flight.

DCI peeps don't get buddy passes either and their parents travel privilege are basically to buy a zed fare.

that s what happen when you work for a CONTRACT carrier who doesn't do any flying on its own.